Smoked: Liga Privada No. 9

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Liga Privada No. 9 is held in high esteem at the top end of the Drew Estate cigar catalog. Liga Privada roughly translates to Private Blend and it is in a Liga all its own. I have smoked many Liga Privada No. 9s, but have never written a review. Of course, I am biased by the reputation of the cigar and my previous experience with it but we’ll give it a go.

The filler is Nicaraguan and Honduran. The binder is Brazilian Mata Fina. The wrapper is Connecticut Broadleaf. Visible seams and veins are part of a somewhat rustic look.

Cedar, walnuts, chocolate, leather, pepper, and espresso. There is a floral and vegetal note during the second third. Both fade quickly. The cedar takes on a charred wood taste by the second third. You pick up some notes of cocoa transition from the milk chocolate and earthy/mineral notes by the final third. The Liga #9 is a bold, complex, full-bodied, medium-full strength cigar.

Since it was first released, the argument is not if it’s a good cigar. It’s whether the price point matches the quality of the Liga No. 9. I can only offer that I have always enjoyed the Liga Privada No. 9 for years. I will pay the cost…when I feel the urge to do so and have yet to regret the decision. This time the decision was a no-brainer. The cigar was gifted to all of us with the Thursday night cigar gang by our buddy Jay. Thank you, bro!

And it does pair well with Islay single malts like the Caol Ila 12.